The charter of the MSIAC is to provide an information foundation upon which studies, analyses, original technical research, and other scientific, technical and operational support activities can be performed. TATs are separately-funded customer work efforts over and above basic MSIAC core operations. To get on task is simple and generally takes two to three weeks to complete. The steps are presented at http://www.dod-msiac.org/tatprocess.html.

TATs fall into the following general areas/categories:

Operational Support Services
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to providing “matchmaker” services between the user and the organization with the appropriate assets and includes immediate taskings from operational forces to rapidly identify and assemble M&S support. Activities may include providing employment planning advice for training, mission rehearsal and analytical studies to include response to the Combatant Commanders CoCOM 96-hour crisis action requirement. The activity of identifying viable options for simulation support to acquisition Program Management Offices, R&D activities and Test and Evaluation organizations is also included.

M&S Scientific and Technical Analysis
One of the most important aspects of the MSIAC is the capability to conduct scientific and technical analysis functions tailored to support the M&S community. These functions include the ability to access, acquire, collect, analyze, synthesize, generate and report regarding Scientific, Technical, and Operation Support Information (STOSI) in all areas of M&S.

M&S Education and Training
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to developing and presenting M&S-related education and training courses. MSIAC can conduct and facilitate education sessions and seminars to train audiences using current M&S information and instruction, in support of the goals of the sponsoring organization(s).

Employment Assistance
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to activities required by M&S users in assisting them with employment of M&S. Due to the cross-cutting and fluid nature of DoD M&S requirements, the ability to tap into a pool of resources to support critical M&S activities (e.g., CoCOM exercises) is viewed as essential. These activities may include but not limited to assistance to CoCOMs and other M&S users in the design and employment of M&S-related exercises, events, studies and analysis, the assessment of the value and results of these activities and “on-staff” subject matter experts to support specific activities.

Technical and Management Support To MSRR
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to activities similar to those required for the MSIAC basic center operations and MSRR support functions that expand the technical and management support to the M&S community in general. These activities could include support for the Resource Coordinators in their management activities and functions, the set-up of servers and nodes, node system administration, connectivity of the appropriate node and support for customers participating in MSRR working groups.

Software and Documentation Distribution
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to the execution of the approved release of specific software, documentation and the associated distribution of the material. Also covered in this area is the distribution of general purpose supporting software tools and the maintenance and distribution of VV&A tools in support of M&S users.

M&S Conference Support
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to providing for the conduct and sponsorship of M&S related workshops and conferences throughout the United States and internationally in order to both collect and disseminate M&S information and to foster an understanding of M&S. This area also includes the conduct and support of demonstrations of M&S capabilities. These functions shall include but not limited to providing technical coordination and information services required to support various meetings of the M&S community.

Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A) Technical Assistance
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to activities relating to the conduct of technical support to developers and accreditation authorities. A typical task may involve providing technical assistance to the M&S community in developing recommended practices for the conduct of VV&A.

High Level Architecture (HLA) Compliance Testing
Tasks required in this area include but are not limited to serving as the central DoD point for certification of compliance with HLA for federates. The contractor may serve as a central point for certification of M&S standards.

Simulation Impact Assessment
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to efforts relating to quantifying the impact of simulations. Specific areas of research include defining the methods of effectiveness (MOE) for determining the impact of simulations on the training, analysis and acquisition processes. Methods to determine the potential savings, cost avoidance or value-added through the use of M&S (i.e., return on investment) could be pursued.

Dedicated Support Tasks
Tasks in this area involve other, non-developmental M&S- related services beyond those otherwise specified activities. Such tasks in support of the M&S community may include, but are not limited to specialized M&S-related subject matter expert staff support, general staff support to address M&S-related tasks, program reviews, strategic planning, exercise management, knowledge acquisition, and operations coordination and monitoring.

Communications Requirements Definition and Service Allocation
Tasks in this area may include but are not limited to studies to determine the M&S community-wide requirements for communications to support M&S activities and functions. Additionally, the MSIAC may be tasked to allocate available communication services against prioritized needs. Routine coordination with Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) may be a normal part of the requirements process and acting as the prime DISA M&S communications requirements point-of-contact (POC) would also be a potential TAT.